of habtfobd



7 Aug. 23, 1927. 1,640,306

' T. AUSTIN ORGAN ACTION Filed Feb. 5, 1925.

Zlnvemhyo Patented Au 23, 1927.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. AUSTIN, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, 'ASSIGNOR TO THE AUSTIN ORGAN COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ORGAN ACTION.

Application fi led F ebru ary 3, 1925. Serial No. ,5124

This invention relates to automatic musical instruments, such'as organs, of the sort havingnote sounding devices of pipes controlled by a perforated note sheet passing over a tracker bar or equivalent element.

The aim of the invention is-to providean improved control for organs of this.s0rt-, whereby the selective association of'the respective note playing ducts in the tracker bar with the severalgregisters of note sounding devices or pipes, is brought about in a very simple and effective manner.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiment herein disclosed, thestop actions for I in the tracker bar with the sounding devices or pipes of different ranks or registers are controlled by the note sheet through said note playing ducts and a master duct, the note sheet-being provided with rows of note playingperforations and a row of master perforations adapted to uncover the master duct, the master perforations being so positioned with respect to certainot' the perfo rations in the lines'of note playing perforations as to effect the selective actuation of the stop actions inthe desired order and at the required times, To carry out the present invention, it is only necessary to provide the tracker bar with the usual note playing ducts and with but one additional duct, here termed the master duct; and to provide the note sheet with lines of perforations after.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified 1n the construction hereinafter set forti, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims, a

selectively associating the note playing ducts corresponding innumber to the note playing in part pointed out more in detail hereinf In the accompanying drawing, the figure diagrammaticaily illustrates one embodiment which the features of the present invention may take, it being understood thatthis dis-' closure is by way of exemplificationf only, that the arrangement is susceptible of varions modifications and changes, and that the various parts may be modified as to mode of operation and in numbers, arrangements and positions, as desired. a In said drawing: The figure shows a diagrammatic organization partly in elevation and, partly in perspective. V a

In order, that it may be understoodthoroughly that the present disclosure is by way of exemplification only; for the purpos'eo indicating some of the many changes and modifications which may be made; and I with the'zobject of making for conciseness and defiuiteness in phraseology, the following statements may be made. The term key actions is employed for indicating those portions of' the organ mechanism which,

when incorporated in the ordinary manual organ, are operated. from the keys (or pedals) of the keyboard, or keyboards, for sounding the different notes of the sound instruments or pipes which. are usually arranged in registers; while those portions of the mechanism which, when employed in the ordinary manual organ, would be operated by the stop knobs, handles, tablets, or stop pedals for controlling the different stops or registers of pipes, are termed stop actions. Both the stop actions and the key actions may be of any well-known u form and may be electric, pneumatic, or mechanical, wholly or in part, or in combination. The control ofth'ese actions through the tracker bar ducts may be effected entirely pneumatically or partly pneumatically and partly electrically or mechanically. In the present instance, the key actions are each shownas comprising a key of a "keyboard ormanual and an associated operating magnet, but it will be understood,

as the description proceeds, that my invention maybe incorporated in a musical instrument wherein, during the, automatic playing of the organ, the keys are rendered inoperative, the key actions being controlled the music: sheet without eperating the keys. Each of the stop actions is symbolically shown as comprising a draw stop and an associated operating magnet, but it is ob vious that these stops may just as well be represented by tilting tablets or pedals, and that the stop actions may be controlled without operating the usual manual or pedal stop members.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 and 101 designate the respective keys of two key actions, and Q and 102 designate the operating magnets for these keys. The stop actions (only two being shown in the present instance) are illustrated as having respective draw-stops or rods 3 and 103 provided with respective operating magnets 4 and 10 1. In the present instance, the knobs are drawn into on position when the respective magnets are energized and when released are moved to oil position as, for example, by means of the respective springs 5 and 105. As hereinafter explained more in detail, the stop action having the draw stop 3 is associated with the same duct in the tracker bar as that through which the key 1 is controlled, and the stop 10? is associated with the same duct in the tracker bar as that through which the key 101 is controlled.

In accordance with the present illustrative embodiment, those stops which have been moved into on position are latched or held in that position until another stop or combination of stops are to be brought on, when all of the on stops are released. To this end I provide what, for convenience, may be termed a releasing device which may include a pivoted unit or latch A, and an operating magnet B. The latch A is illustrated as having a pair of arms 6 and 100 cooperating with the armature extensions 7 and 107 depending, respectively, trom the draw stops 3 and 103. The free end of: the arms 6 and 106 are respectively provided with upstanding lips 8 and 10S adapted, when the magnet B is de-energized, to engage behind the extensions 7 and 107 when the draw stops are in on position and hold them in that position. The latch A is normally held in stop engaging position by the spring C. \Vhen the magnet B is energized, the lips 8 and 108 are lowcred, whereupon the stops (or stop) which were in on positions are drawn by the respective springs 5 and 105, into off positions.

The. tracker bar, over which is adapted to pass the note sheet D in the customary manner, is designated by the letter E. This note sheet is proved with rows of note playing perforations adapted to track over the usual ducts or holes in the tracker bar. In the drawings, the perforations of that row or line which control the key action, symbolized by the key 1, are designated by the numeral 9, and those perforations in the row which control the other key action, symbolized by the key 101., are designated b the numeral 109. The remaining note playing pcrt'orm tions are denoted by the letter l it is, of

course, urulerstood that some oil" these remaining perforations may be associated with note playing ducts which. in turn, are associated with stop actions, and ti at others are associated with note playing ducts having no connection with a stop action. in actual practice, those note pla 'ing ducts which are associated with key actions for sounding notes or pipes most infrequentl used. are employed in connection with the control of certain of the stop actions so as to avoid, as much as possible, interference with the correct rendition of the selections to be played. By way of assumption. the tracker bar may have two hundred and forty note playing ducts, and, of these, itorty may be employed in connection with the control ol stop actions. The ducts in the tracker bar over which the lines oi [)GltOl'iltlOl'lS E) and 100, respectively, track, are designated by the numerals 11 and 111, and the remaining ducts by the letter (i. The tracliier bar it, in addition to being provided with the usual note playing ducts or holes, has, pre'lerably adjacent one end, a master duct H over which is adapted to pass a row of master perforations 1 which, conjointly with certain of the perforations which pass over the dues 11 and 111, selectively control the op ration of the stop actions. In the present instance, those perforations, in the row 9, which act conjointl with the perforations l to control the stop action. symbolized by the draw stop 3, are designated by the numeral 12, and the perforations in the row 100, which control, conjointly with the. peritoratiom; l, the stop action, SYH'lbOliZGtl by the draw stop 103, are designated by the numeral 112.

As )reviously stated, the control of the key actions and stop actions by the note sheet, acting through the respective tracker ducts, may be effected. through instrumentalit-ics which are wholly pneumatic r in part electric or mechanical, or otherwise. 5y way 01 exeinpliiication, these instrum ntalitics which, for conciscncss ant definiteness in phraseology are termed actuating devices, are in the term of pneumatically operated electric SWltClHi-L' 'ihc actuating means, which is individual to the key action 1, is designated generally by the numeral 123; thatassociated. with the key 101, by the nluneral 113; and that associated with the master duct H by the letter J. These actuating devices are similar in construction and, therefore, a description ot one is illustrative of all. The actuating device 13, for instance, hasa diaphragm or pouch 13', the space above which is connected, as shown, by the duct 11 oi the tracker bar.

flelow the diaphragm is an exhaust chamber K which may communicate with the space above the diaphragm through ableedf opening 13". 13" designates" the resilient contact armot a switch adapted to be thrown into engagement with a fixed, contact 13" when the duct 11 is uncovered either by a perforation 9 01 aperforation12r Correspondingparts of the actuating devices J and 113 are similarlyprimed.

The means for changingthe function of the ducts 11. and 111 and their associated.

actuating devices 13 and 113 (that is" to say,whether they shall otlice. as-note play.

ing or stop pulling) may take any suitable form. For example, this means may. in clude the actuating device J controlled through the master port H, the magnet L and a gang switch arrangement M operated by the magnet L. The gang switch arrangement includes a plurality of switchescorresponding 111 number to the number t automatically controlled stopsand respectively associated with said stops and the corresponding key actions. In the present instance, the switch, associated with the actuating device 13, includes a pivoted con tact member or blade 15, connected to the contact arm 13'1", and alpair of terminals 16 and 17 whichthe contaetmember 15 is adapted to alternately engage, these terminals being respectively connected to the key operating magnet 2 and the stop operating magnet 4-. The contact member 115 of the other switch 01 the gang s connected to the resilient switch arm 113' and has a pair oi terminals 116 and 117, respectively, connected to the magnets 102 and 1-. These I contact members are connected to a common *arn'iature rod N whichis normally urged (when no current is passing through the magnet L) by a spring 0 m a direction to hold the respective members and 115 in" engagement with terminals 16 and l16. Ar-

ranged in series with the operating magnet L is the magnet B ofthe stop releasing .device A, as shown by the dashhne. Pdesignates a battery which re common to the several circuits, one side of the battery being connected, as shown, to the contacts or terminals 13, 1137", and Jf'. It may be desired, in fact, it may be preferred, to actuate the switch arrangement M and the stop -releasing mechanism by a pneumatic or pneumatics controlled through the-port H; an electrical arrangement being adapted inthe showing of the drawing for convenience. r v i The operation of the arrangement illustrated is'loriefly, as follows: Assuming that all of the stops are in off positionwhen the perforation 12, shown at the lower end of the note sheet, and the transversely alined master perforation I, uncover the respective tracker bar duets 11 and H, atmospheric pressure will be admitted to thechamber above the diaphragm J whereupon the contact arm J will be flexed toniake contact with the terminal J" causing a current to flow through the magnets B and L with'the result that the releasing unit A will be drawn down to, the, position shown in the figure,

and the armaturerod ll will be drawn to the left, thereby connecting therespective stop operating magnets 1 and 104: with the con- 1 tactarms 13 and 113', respectively. At

mosphericpressure will also be admitted to the-chamber above the diaphragm 13, whereupon, the contact arm 13 will close the circuit through the switch member 15 and the magnet 4 resulting in the energization of the latter wliichwill thereupon pull the draw stop 3 to on position. The draw stop 103 will not be affected because the duct 111 is covered-bythe note sheet. When the note sheet has moved to such an extent that the lowermost perforation 12'and the transversely alined master perforation I have passed the tractor ducts, atn'iospheric pressure to thespace above the diaphragm J is shut oft, whereupon the switch of the actuat ng device J '15 broken with the result that the magnet B is de-energiz ed, whereupon the unit A will swing up bringing the lip 8 in Ilront of the extension T of the draw stop 3 to hold this draw stop in on position. Also, when the switch of the actuating devlce J is thus'broken, the magnet L is de-energized, whereupon the spring 0 will move the gang switches to a position where the con.-

tact members en 'a 'e the terminals associated of the key action symbolized-by the liey 101.

The perforations to the right ofthe lowermost perforation 109 resulted in the operation of other key actions. l l hile this group of perforations was passingover the tracker bar, the drawstop 3 was held 111 on pos1- tion. VVhen the music sheet moves to the position shown in the drawmgand in which position the ducts 111 and H are, respective ly,'uncovered by the first perforation 112 and the transversely alined master perforation I, the switch of the actuating device J is again closed, whereupon the magnet B is again energized to pull the latch A down,

thereliy releasing the draw stop 3 from on to o position. At about the same time,

the magnet L is energized to throw the gang switches'to the positions shown. The duct 11.1. lacing open to the atmosphere, pres-- sure admitted to the actuating device 113, whereupon the circuit is closed through the operating magnet 10 i causing the stop 103 to be drawn to the on position illustrated. Alter the stated perforations 112 and I have passed. the tracker ducts. the magnets B and L are tie-energized, with the result that the lip 108 w ll hold the stop 103 in on position, and the spring (7) will throw the gang switches into engagement with the terminals which are associated with the key operating magnets 2 and 102. The following perforations will then result in the actuation of the several key actions. (/ertain of these pen iterations will result in the sounding oi pipes in the register or registers other than those which are sounded by preceding perforations in the same row or rows.

I claim my invention:

1. In an automatic musical instrument, a. tracker har having a plurality of note playing duets, a. plurality ot key actions respectively and normally operativcly connected with said note playing ducts, a plurality of stop actions respectively associated with said note playing ducts, and means for temporarily and operatively connecting all of the stop actions with their respective note playing ducts.

2. In an auton'latic musical instrument, a tracker bar having a plurality of note playing ducts, a. plurality of key actions respectively and normally operatively connected with said note playing ducts, a plurality of stop actions respectively associated with said note playing ducts. means for temporarily and. operatively connecting all of the stop actions with their respective note playing ducts, and means for holding the actuated stop actions in operated positions between the intervals of actuation of said last mentioned means.

3. In an automatic n'iusical instrument, a tracker har having a plurality of note playing ducts, actuating means associated with each duct, a plurality of key actions ITSPQC tivelyassociated with said. actuating means, a plurality of stop actions respectively associated with actuating means, means individ ual to each actuating means "for alternately connecting the same to a respective key action and stop action, and means common to all of said imlividual means for operating the same in unison.

l. In an automatic musical instrument, a tracker bar having a plurality of note playing ducts a note sheet passing over said tracker liars and having rows of perforations registering with said ducts, a pluality of key actions respectively controlled through said ducts a plurality of stop actions adapted to be controlled throughsaid ducts, and means controlled by said note sheet for changing the character of said ducts.

5. In an automatic musical instrument. a tracker bar having a plurality of note playing ducts, a plurality oi key actions respectively and normally operatirely connected with said note playing ducts, a plurality of stop actions respectively associated with said note playing ducts, a note sheet having rows ol perforations respectively registering with said ducts, and means controlled by said note sheet for teinpm'arily and operatively connectim all of the stop actions with their respective note playing ducts.

6. In an automatic musical 'istrument, a tracker liar having a note playing duct and a master duct, a key action controlled through said note playing duct, and a stop action cont-rolled through said ducts conjointly.

7. In an automatic musical instrument, a tracker bar having a plurality of note playing ducts and a master duct a plurality ol key actions respectively controlled through said note playing ducts, and a plurality of stop actions controlled through said respec tire note playing ducts conjointly with said master duct.

S. In an automatic musical instrun'ient, a tracker har having a plurality of note playing ducts and a master duct, a plurality of key actions respectively controlled through said note playing ducts, a plurality oi stop actions also respectively controlled through said note playing ducts, and means for changing the function of said note playing ducts and controlled through said master duct.

9. In an automatic musical instrument, a

tracker loar having a plurality of note playing ducts, a plurality of key actions respectively and normally opcrativcly associated with said ducts, a plurality of stop actions associated with said ducts, and means including a single master duct in said tracker bar through which said first mentioned ducts are rendered operative to efloct actuatirm of said stop actions.

10. In an auton'iatic musical instrument, a tracker bar having a plurality of note playing ducts and a master duct, a plurality of key actions respectively and norn'ially operatively connected with said note playing ducts a plurality of stop actions adapted to be respectively and operatively connected with said note playing ducts, and means con trolled by said master duct for temporarily and operatively connecting all of the stop actions with their respective note playing ducts.

11. In an automatic musical instrument. a tracker bar having a plurality of note playing ducts and a master duct, a plurality of key actions respectively and normally operatively connected with said note playing ducts, a plurality of stop actions adapted to be respectively and operatively connected with said note playing ducts, means controlled by said master duct for temporarily and operatively connecting all-of the stop actions with their respective notev playing ducts, and means controlled through said master duct for latching the actuated stop 'ciated with said actuating means,a plurality of stop actions respectively associated with said actuating means," means individual to each of said actuating means for alternately connectmg the same to the respective key action and stop action, and means controlled through said master duct and common to all of said individual means for operating the same in unison.

13. In an automatic musical instrument, a

tracker bar having a plurality of note play ing ducts and a master duct, a plurality of pneumatically operated switches respectively associated with said note playing ducts, a plurality of key actions respectively; associated with said switches,a plurality of stop actions also respectivel associated with said switches,'a gang switch for alternately connecting the pneumatic switches with their respective sto J actions and key actions, and means control ed through said master-duct for actuating said gang switch.

14. In an automatic musical instrument, a tracker bar having a plurality of note playingducts and a master duct, a plurality of pneumatically operated switches respectively associated with said note playing ducts, a plurality of key actions respectively associated with said switches, a plurality of stop actions also respectively associatedwith said switches, a gang switch for alternately connecting the pneumatic switches with their respective stop actions and key actions, means controlled through saidmasterduct for actuating said gang switch, and means controlled through said master duct for holding the actuated stop actions in on positions between the periods of actuation of said last mentioned means.

15. In an automatic musical instrument, a

tracker bar havinga plurality of note playing ducts and a master duct, a note sheet having a plurality of rows of note playing perforations adapted to respectively register with said note playing ducts and a row of master perforations adapted to. register with said master duct, a plurality of key actions respectively control ed through said .note playing ducts by said rows of note playing perforations, and a pluralityof stop actions controlled through said respective note playing ductsland master duct by said master perforations conjointly with certain of the perforations in said rows of note playing perforations.

16. In an cautomatic musical instrument, a tracker bar havinga plurality of note E9133, ingducts and a master duct, a note sheet havinga plurality of rows of note playing.

perforations, one row registering with each note playing duct, said note sheet also having a row of master perforations registering with said master duct, a plurality of key actions respectively controlled by said rows, ofnote playing perforations, a plurality of stop actions adapted to be controlled by certain perforations in the respective rows of note playing perforations, and. means controlled by the master perforations for changing the functions of said note playing ducts.

17 In an automatic musical instrument, a

tracker bar-having a plurality of note playing ducts and a master duct, a note sheet having a plurality of note playing perforations adapted to respectively register with said note playing ducts, said note sheet also having a row of ducts adapted to register with. said master duct, a plurality of key ac ions respectively and normally operatively connected with said note playing ducts, a plurality of stop actions adapted to be respectively and operatively connected with said note playing ducts, and means controlled by said master duct for temporarily and operatively connecting all of the stop actions with their respective note playing ducts. I

18. In an automatic musical instrument, a tracker bar having a plurality of note play ing ducts and a master duct, a note sheet having a plurality of rows of note playing perforations adapted to respectively register with said note playing ducts and a row of master perforations adapted. to register with said master duct, a plurality of key actions respectively controlled through said note playing ducts by said rows of note.

playing perforations, a plurality of stop actions controlled through said respective note 'tuated stop actions in operated positions during the periods thatsaid master duct is blanked by said note sheet. f

19. In an automatic musical instrument, a tracker bar having a pluralityof note playing ducts anda master duct, a note sheet having a plurality of rows of note playing perforations adapted to respectively register with said note playing ducts and a row :of master perforations adapted to register with said master duct, a plurality of key actions, actuating means respectively associated with said key actions and respectively controlled through said note playing ducts by said rows of note playing perforations, a plurality of stop actions controlled through, said respective note playing ducts and master duct by said master perforations conjointly with certain of the perforations in said rows of note playing perforations, and

means controlled by said master pcrforations for latching the actuated. stop actions in operated positions durin; the periods that said master duct is blanked by said note sheet, the actuated stop actions being released when a stop action is drawn on.

JOHN T. AUSTIN. 

